Textile feinting machine



Sept. 17. 1940. M. N. BULFORD Re 21,568

` TEXTILE PRINTING MACHINE l original Fivledsept. 29. 19:58

INVENTOR lla/fa] Al. ABaZf'o/'aZ A-.rToRN a Reissued Sept. 17, ,1940

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEXTILE PRINTING MACHINE Murray N. Bulford, Clearwater, S. C., assigner to United Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation oi.' Delaware Original No. 2,158,027, dated May 9, 1939, Serial No. 232,246, September y29, 1938. Application for reissue August 24, 1939, Serial No. 291,714

18 Claims.

the web to be printed in order to make the print` ing extend to the edges of the web, and to use a backgrey toabsorb any coloring matterl from the engraved parts of the roll which are beyond the edges of the cloth and so protect the blanket which is. between the printed web and ther pressure cylinder.

According to my invention, the accurate alinement of the web with the engraved printing rolls makes it possible to use shorter printingy rolls and to limit the length of the engraving on them to the widthiof the web as the printing to the edges of the web `is insured by the guiding mechanism. Thus, a saving o f the amount of coloring matterl is erfected. Furthermore, as none of the engraved portions of the rolls extend beyond the edges of the web, no backgrey is needed. It also results in maintaining an even pattern in relation to the selvage of the cloth.

More speciilcally, my invention relates to the I use of lateral adjusting mechanism for the web controlled by photo-electric tubes positioned at the edges of the web closewtothe lineof contact between the printing roll and the pressure cylinder. This arrangement is effective because it does not depend upon any contact with the edge oi the web, nor is it affected by inequalities of elasticity in the opposite sides of the web.

I will describemy invention in the following specication and`point out its novel features in appended claims.

Refering to the drawing, 4

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a printing machine which is made according to and embodies my invention;

Flg. 2 is a plan view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 1; y

Fig. 3 is a side elevation Aof a mechanism for manually adjusting the printing roll laterally;

and

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the tenter frame The web passes under a roller I3, over a brush I4 in a vacuum chamber I5 and over another roller I5 which leads it between a printing roll lII and a rubber covered pressure cylinder I8. The length of the engraving on the printing roll is indicated by the line A-'B (Fig. 2) which also lindicates the width of the web to be printed. A printing blanket I9 also runs between the printing roll and the pressure cylinder. 20 is a color box in which is a brush 2| which carries the coloring matter to the engraved printing roll I1. 22 is an oscillating doctor blade which removes the coloring matter from the outer surface of the roll I1. The blanket I9 is an endless belt which passes under the pressure cylinder I8, over guide rollers 23, 24 and around a tension roller 25 on an adjustable frame 26.

As these parts are well known, they are shown more or less diagrammatically and described briey.

There may be several printing rolls spaced about the pressure cylinder for applying different colors to the web. 'According to former practice, the engraving on printing rolls has to be longer than the width of the web to insure printing to the edges of the web and another cloth, called a backgrey, is interposed between the printing blanket I9 and the web II-to absorb-the color from the overlapping engravingon the printing rolls. According to my invention, the engraved portion. of the printing roll or rolls is made of the samelength as the width of the web` and the backgrey is eliminated. Printing to the extreme edges of the web is accomplished by maintaining the web in exact alinement with the engraved portion of the printing roll or rolls by the instrumentalities which I will now describe.

The end of the tenter frame remote from the printer is adjustably supported, as Ashown at 30. Its other end is guided in a transverse track3l. 32 is a transverse screw suported against side movement in pedestals 33, 33 (see Fig. 3). Internally threaded lugs 34, 34 which engage the screws 32 depend from the tenter frame. 35 is a worm wheel amxed to the shaft of the screw 32. This is engaged by a worm 36 on the shaft of a reversi-ble electric motor 31.

The mechanism shown in Fig. 3 is an arrangement for manually adjustingthe printing roll I1 laterally. The bearings for the roll, which are not shown, are of suicient width to permit some lateral movement of the roll to bring its engraved portion into alinement with the web. 40

' and 4|` are spaced anges projecting from the shaft of the roll., Between them is tted a guide member 42 from which projects an internally threaded boss 43. 44 is a threaded shaft parallel with the axis of the roll l1 and held against longitudinal movement. 45 is a bevel gear aiiixed to shaft 44 which can be turned by another bevel gear on a hand wheel shaft not shown. 50, 5| are photo-electric tubes positioned, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, near the point wherethe web Il passes into the printer. Beams of iight are passed vertically through these tubes at the edges of the web to render them active and capable 'of carrying currents of electricity.

As shown in Fig. 4, one terminal of each tube is connected with the main from a source of which has stationary contacts 56, 51 and 58. The

contacts 55, 53 are connected together and to one of the terminals of the motor 31. Contact 51 is connected to the other terminal of the motor.

This arrangement is such that when equal amounts of light pass throughthe tubes 50, 5I, the etl'ect of the coils 52, 53 on the reversing switch blades will be equal andopposi'te and they 4will remain in the neutral position in which they are shown in Fig. 4, springs 59 being shown as a means for centering them. If the light passing through tube 5l, for example, is diminished or shut oir, as it will be if the web I I runs toward it, even to a slight degree. the coil 52 will be deen- 4ergiaed and coil 53 will pull the reversing switch blades 54, 55 onto contacts 51, 58, respectively. This will cause the motor 31 to rotate in one direction and through the mechanism described will shift the tenter frame Ill `laterally in the direction to move the edge of web II away from the lightrays for tube 5U. As soon as the web has been yshifted sumciently to cause tube`5|l to be active, its coil 52 will be energized to neutralize the effect of coil 53 and the reversing switch blades -will be centered to shut oil' the motor current and stop the lateral movement of the tenter frame.

Obviously, the eii'ect of the web Il running out of alinement with thefengraved portion ofthe printing roll in the opposite direction will be corrected similarly. Thus, by this simple expedient the tenter frame which brings the web to a width which corresponds to the length of engraving on the printing roller will ber moved laterally automatically to maintain the web in alinement with the engraving to get the desired result.

It is to be .understood that the various parts shown and described are diagrammatic and that many variations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scopeof the invention. I intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. 'I'he combination of a printing Vunit and a tenter'frame, the printing unit having. a pressure cylinder and a printing roll arranged to continuously propel a textile fabric at the speed oi' the tenter frame and the tenter frame being textile material and its printing roll having an engraved portion of a predetermined length, said tenter'frame being arranged to stretch the fabric to a width corresponding to the length of the engraved portion of the printing roll and being positioned to lead the fabric directly to the printing unit in alinement with the engraved portion of said printing roll.

3. A textile Aprinting machine comprising a printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined length combined with means for stretching a web of textile material to a width corresponding to thelength oi said engraved portion of the roll, said stretching means being positioned to lead the web to the roll.

4. A textile printing machine comprising Ia printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined length combined with means for stretching a web of textile material to a width corresponding to the length oi' said engraved portion of the roll and leading the web to the' roll, and means for moving saidstretching means laterally to maintain the web in alinement with the engraved portion of the'roil. .l

5, A textile printing machinev comprising a printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined length combined with means for stretching a web of textile materialv to a width corresponding to the length oi' said engraved portion of the roll and leading thefweb to the roll, and electrically controlled means for automatically moving said stretcliingmeans laterally to maintain the web in alinement with the engraved portion of the roll. f

6. A textile printing machine comprising a printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined length combined with means for stretching a web of textile material to a width corresponding to the length of said engraved portion of the roll and leading the web to the roll, andvelectrically controlled means comprising an electro-responsive device positioned near the roll for automatically moving said stretching means` laterally to maintainthe web in alinement with the engraved portion of the roll.

'7. A textile printing machine comprising a ,printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined length ombined with .means for stretching a web of textile material to a width corresponding to the length of said engraved portion of the roll and leading theweb to the roll, motor actuated mechanism for automatically moving said stretching means laterally to maintain the web in alinement with the engraved portion of the roll, circuits for the motor and spaced electro-,responsive control devices in said circuits.

8. A textile printing machine comprising a printing roll 'having an engraved portion of predetermined length combined With means .for stretching a web oi textile material to a width corresponding to thelength of said engraved portion of the roll, motor actuated mechanism for automatically moving said stretching means laterally to maintain the web in alinement with the engraved portion of the roll, circuits for the motor and spaced photo-electric control devices in said circuits. l

9. A textile -printing machine comprising a printing roll having an engraved portion of p re'- determined length combined with a tenter frame arranged to stretch a web of textile material to a width corresponding to the length of said engraved portion of the roll and positioned to lead the web to the roll, and means for moving the tenter trame laterally to maintain the web in alinement with said engraved portion of the roll. 10. A textile printing machine comprising' a printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined length combined with a laterally movable tenter frame arranged to stretch alweb of textile material to a width corresponding to the length of said engraved portion of the roll and positioned to lead the web to the roll, automatic means for moving thetenter frame to 'maintain the web in alinement with said en graved portion of the roll, and spaced electroresponsive control devices for said moving means positioned near the roll.

, 1l. A textile printing machine comprising a printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined length combined with a laterally movable tenter frame arranged to stretch a web of textile material to afwldth corresponding to the length of said engraved portion of the roll and'positioned to lead the web to the roll, mechanism for moving the tenter frame to maintain the web in alinement with said engraved portion of the roll, an electric motor for actuating said mechanism, circuits for the motorl and spaced electro-responsive control devices in said circuits positioned near the roll.

l 12. A textile printing machine comprising a printing roll having an engraved portion oi' predeterminedy length combined with a laterally movable tenter frame arranged tostretch a web or textile material to a width corresponding to the length of said engraved portion oi the roll and positioned to lead the web to the roll, mechanism for moving the tenter frame to maintain the web in alinement with said engraved portion of the roll, an electric motor for actuating .said mechanism, circuits for the motor, and spaced photo-electric control devices in said circuits positioned near the roll.

13. A textile printing machine comprising a printing roll having'an engraved portion of predetennined length, a laterally movable tenter frame arranged to stretch a web of textile materialto a width corresponding to the length of said engraved portion of the roll, mechanism for moving the tenter frame to maintain the web in alinement with said engraved portion of the roll, a reversible electric motor for actuating said mechanism, circuits for the motor, a self-centering reversing switch in the motor circuits, relay coils for actuating the reversing switch, spaced photo-electric tubes positioned near the roll, and control circuits passing through the relay coils 00 and the photo-electric tubes.

14. A textile printing machine a printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined length combined with a laterally movable tenter frame arranged to stretch a web oi textile material to a width corresponding to the length of said engraved portion of the roll and positioned to lead the web to the roll, manual means for alining the engraved portion of the roll with the web, mechanism for moving the tenter frame to maintain the web in alinement with said engraved portion of the roll, an electric motor for actuating said mechanism, circuits for ythe motor, and .spaced electro-responsive control devices in said circuits positioned near the roll.

15. A textile printing machine comprising a printing roll havingA an engraved portion of predetermined length combined with a laterally movable tenter frame arranged to stretch a web v of textile material to a width corresponding to the length of said engraved portion of the roll and positioned to lead the web to the roll, manual means for alining the engraved portion of the roll with the web, mechanism for moving the tenter frame to maintain the web in alinement with said engraved portion of the roll, a reversible electric motor for actuating said mechanism, circuits for the motor, a self-centering reversing switch in the motor circuits, relay coils for actuating the reversing switch, spaced photo-electric tubes positioned near the roll and control circuits` for the relays passing through the relay coils and the photo-electric tubes.

16. A textile printing machine comprising a rotating printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined limited length, combined with a mechanism for bringing a moving web of textile material to be printed to a width corresponding to the length of said engraved portion of the'roll, said mechanism being positioned to' lead the web to the roll.

1'1. A textile printing machine comprising a rotating printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined limited length, combined with a mechanism for bringing a moving web of textile material to be printed to a width corresponding to the length of said engraved portion of the roll, and automatic means for guiding the web from said mechanism to the roll to bring the edges of the web into substantial alinement with the ends of the engraved portion of the roll.

18. A textile printing machine comprising a rotating printing roll having an engraved portion of predetermined limited length, combined with a mechanism for bringing a moving web of textile material to be printed to a width corresponding to the length oi' said engraved portion, automatic means for laterally shifting the relative positions of the printing roll and said mechanism to maintain the edges of the web in substantial alinement with the ends oi the engraved portion of the roll.

MURRAY N. BULFORD. 

